Reenforced concrete floor for buildings and the like



Aug. 21, 1934. H. K.'BATES 1,971,093

REENFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 11, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l H. K. BATES Ali 21, 1934.

REENFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE H. K. BATES Aug 21, 1934.

REENFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 11, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1934- H. K. BATES 1 1,971,093

REENFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 11, 1929 4 sheets sheet '4 IzUeW/YOW Patented Aug. 21, 1934 :U'NIT so STATES mums,

REENFORGED ooNoaarE r L o o R F o R BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE Henry Kenelm Bates, Liverpool, England.

Application.Septemberll, 1929, Serial No. 391,927

In Great Britain September 20, 1928 This invention relates to reenforced concrete floors for-- constructions such as buildings, and more particularly to floors made up of preformed "unit blocks or beams.

An Object of 7 the invention is to provide a unit beam which when assembled with other like beams forms a.continuous, rigid and interconnected flooring, l

Another-object is to provide a flooring which itself presents a suitable, treading, surface or which may be used'as a foundation to support asuperimposed surfacing material,

Another object is to provide a flooring having provisions for thelooation of service elements such as pipes, cables, shafting-and brackets.

A furtherobject of theinvention is to provide means for assembling'the unit beams whereby the conditions for particular kinds of flooring will 1 be satisfied.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for completing the flooring between irregularly spaced-beams.

Aqstill further object is to improve, cheapen and simplify the construction of such floors.

The invention also includes improvements in details of construction as hereinafter described.

I-have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which, by way of example, I have shown the applioationof' my invention to various typical cases met with in the construction of buildings having floors or ceilings construeted of concretebeams.

In the drawings: 1

Figs. 1 to 11am perspective views, and

'Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C are transverse sections of the beam of Fig. 1, to-an enlarged scale.

Figs. 1 and 1A- show the preferred construction of a unit beam. e 1 Fig. 2 shows partrof a floor in which the beams rest; on the upper flanges of rolled steel jois V Fig. 3 is a view similar to-Fig. 2 and shows the beams supportedby brick walls.

Fig. 4 shows the floor beams resting on haunches carried by the lower member of the rolledsteel joists. I r Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of the units employed to fill in the finalgaps on the floor- Fig. 6 shows a modification of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows the construction whenthe flooring beamsare arranged to form step ed tiers of r a slopingfioor.

Fig. 8 shows thearrangement whenlthe floor i ing beams form aflat roof, whereby. a weatherbeam -A comprises the upper horizontal portion which provides the floor surface, and the longitudinal side members. and the transverse end members a5 which depend from the periphery thereof. At intermediate points, the beammay e stren thened by transverse webs as, which are usually providedwith cored holes Q9; The members (:4 and afiare adapted to carry parts attached to the under sides of; the floors, such as shafting brackets, lifting appliances, conduits and the like.

The longitudinal side members of the beam are reenforced by'theembedded members a6.

The main reenforcement members are arrangedto take the tensile stresses, andare located in the lower portions of the side members; other lighter longitudinal reenforcing members maybe provided, and these members are attached together by stirrups extended to prevent displacement whilst casting. In some cases the horizontal members. of the U- shaped beams, may be' reenforced by longitudinalba'rs connected together by. interlaced transversely disposed secondary reenforcements which may follow the lines of the contour of the section.

: The outer. vertical faces of the side mem bersareprovided with longitudinally extending grouting grooves, these being the grooves a, in the longitudinal-side members and the grooves (12 in the. transverse side members a5. Provision may be made to ensure that, as. the beams are laid sideflby side, spaces of uniform width will be formed between the grooved vertical faces.- This may be accomplished by providing a projecting flange a3 (see Fig; 1B) at the lower edge of the side. members. Holes 17,15 which are preferably tapered are formed in the top membersof the flooring. beams to be'usedin making through connections of pipes cables 'orthe like; When the holes are not in use they may befilled with tapered plugs 1116. Y As has been stated, it is intended that the unit beams belaid sideby side to form a complete. flooring. When being so laid the flanges bottom of the spaces.

a3 abut and provide a uniform space between adjacent beams into which suitable grouting may be poured from the top. The abutting flanges prevent escape of grouting from the In some cases the flanges a3 may be narrowed or be altogether eliminated, and spacer pieces D as in Fig. 10 may be located between the lower edges" of the side member, to serve the purpose of the flanges as well as additional purposes. For example, if the spacer pieces are made of a material such as wood, wood fibre or the like composition they will provide a nail or screw-hold for attaching any suitable form of ceiling finish.

The grouting poured between the beams, enters the grooves a1 and locks the adjacent side members together, so that each beam A is re-' enforced by the adjacent beams on opposite sides of it, and so that a monolithic fioor is provided. Longitudinal reenfor cing members may be located in the spaces before the grouting is poured, so that with the grouting an inner-beam reenforcement which still further strengthens the structure, will be provided. Such reenforcements preferably span the joints between the wood or like material, may be fitted in the upper part of the spaces between the beams as shown in Fig. 1C. These may be of T-shaped section so that the head rests on the adjacent beams. Such spacer piecesD are employed for attaching a suitable floor finish.

The beams of this invention are particularly applicable to steel frame buildings as the beams may be laid sideby side transversely across the rolled steel joists forming part of the steel construction of the building. In Fig. 2, the beams L rest on the upper surface of the upper member of such joists. While the floor beams may be of any suitable cross-section to correspond with the fioor loading, the general configuration of the. vertical. sides of the concrete beam, the mode of support, the mode of' reenforcement of the beam itself and of inter-beam reenforcement :are such that the length of the beam between the pointsof support may be made greater than that adopted in usual" practice; this. permits the pitch of the rolled steel joints to be correspondingly increased, andthe general construction cheapened.

Where the pitch of the transverse rolled steel joists supporting the floor beam permits, the

" lengths of the beams may be so arranged that each beam is supported by three ormore joists in which case the transverse joints between the ends of the fioor beams are,'in plan view, staggered; there is, therefore, on each. side of each transverse joint a continuous portion of the adjacentfloor beam, and as-the sides of adjacent sides of the beams" are bonded by the groutingin the manner described "the stiffness of the I floor to resist loading is considerably increased. In Fig. 3, the floor beams are shown as resting on walls C. This figure also shows spaces (21 between the ends of the spacer pieces D to accommodate various services laid below the floor boards, as will be explained in greater detail. Both Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show sheets of fibrous plaster for example, secured to spacer strips D to present a finished surface- Where it is required to lay the flooring beams so that their upper faces shall be nearly level with the upper faces of the top flanges of the joists by which the beams are carried, so as to economize height in a multi-floor building the arrangement of Fig. 4 may be used. In this case the ends of the beams rest on haunchings G, which may be pre-cast in halves with tongueand-groove joints and be fitted on, or be cast in situ round the lower members of the rolled steel joists; and in each case, when the floor beams are laid, encasing the joist. The upper faces of the haunchings are of concave configuration, and the ends of the floor-beams are correspondingly convex shape; the ends of the beams are rabbeted 'so as to extend below the upper fiange of the joists B. This construction ensures the retention in position of the haunchings by the pressure between the'convex and concave surfaces, and further considerably strengthens the beams, rendering them encastre, by reason of the vertical forces on the ends of the beam tending to resist deflection. In order to still further strengthen the beam in this construction, continuity reenforcement rods F are fitted in the grouted joint between the pairsof beams, said rods being anchored at their ends near the bottoms of the grouted joints, and being bent so as to pass from the grouted joint between the one set of beams, over the intervening joist, and into the grouted joint between the corresponding aligning beams on the other side of the joist.

Suitable units as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 at H, H and H3 are provided for use where, after a group of flooring beams, 'with'the exception of the last one of the group, have been inserted side by side between a walland a main girder,

or betweentwo main girders, the gap left is unsuitable for insertion of a final flooring beam of standard width. In laying the floor, the side members" of the beams which face the gap have flanges a8 near the upper portions thereof to provide rabbeted recesses at the top, and have bevelled flanges a7 at the lower portions thereof. The unit members H, which may be reenforced as at hfit in the upper rabbeted recesses so that their upper surfaces are in alignment with the upper surfaces of the beams. These slabs usually are provided with lifting rings and may be perforated for ventilating purposes.

In Fig. 6, the lower members H are slabs havwas big bevelled edges which fit the bevelled flanges ber or chase, the pipes, heating grid or the like being in'the latter case supported on the cross bearers. The position of the final closing unit formed as described may be arranged to suit the desired location for the pipe or grid chamber, by laying the fioor members so as to form- 'I a Law the gap at the desired end or intermediate position. r

Fig. 7 shows the modification'of construction suitable for floor beams of cinemas or the like indoor, or athletic grounds or the like outdoor structures with sloping or tiered floors- In these cases the rolled steel joists B arelaid transversely at an angle, and to provide the horizontal steps; the one vertical longitudinal side member. all of the. floor beam is made longer than the other e10, the lower part only of the longer member all is grooved as at (13, whilst the whole of the face of'alil is grooved; .The. under faces of. the beams are shaped to suit the sloping joists, and suitable provision is made for bonding the abutting portions together and .to brackets attached at intervals to the joists B to hold the beams against lateral displacement down the slope.

Fig. 8 shows the preferred construction where the flooring beams .A3 form a flat roof, their ends resting on the lower edges 01 of recesses formed in walls C. Weather-tight joists which do not need flashing are formed as follows:

The ends of the beams are extended upwardly, as at :12, by an amount equal to, say, one or two courses of brick, and at the end of each side face of each beam a semicylindrical hollow portion al3 is formed in the raised ends; these hollow portions align, and form vertical troughs, the lower ends of which are closed by the surface cl, and into which grout is poured, which grout completely closes theends of the joints between the floor beams; and forms an effectual seal to prevent leakage of water along the joints;

moreover, the raised portions, unless the water level rises unduly, prevent the flow of water over the ends of the beams. Floor beams thus constructed are usually sufficient to ensure water tight joints with the walls Without the use of asphalt or lead flashing.

Opening 111 for glazing, may be provided in such floors.

Fig. 9 shows a floor finish in the form of boards K attached to upper spacer pieces D, but obviously any desired finish may be provided. This figure also shows spaces left between the spacer pieces D (corresponding to d in Fig. 3), so as to form passageways to permit electric, gas or the like services to be carried transversely across the beams and below the floor boards. Such a service is indicated at P, and this may extend through the opening al5 to the under side of the beam.

In Fig. 10, a ceiling finish of lath and plaster as Q is shown, but any suitable finish may be provided.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the floor beams are shown as carried on haunchings G; but the floor and ceiling finishes shown may be fitted to floor beams carried on the tops of the joists B as shown in the other modifications.

The section illustrated, of an inverted channel section, has been found to be the one best adapted for the purpose; a floor beam of this section is Well adapted for efiective reenforcement, and a beam having the necessary stiffness to resist deflection is comparatively light; the vertical side members are well adapted to take V the longitudinal locking grooves, and the spacer pieces between the lower edges of these memhere are well adapted to carry the ceiling finishes where ceilings are required, or closure members where chases or cavities are required. The main features of the invention may, however, be embodied in other sections, for example imhollow rectangular or the like sections.v

In those cases where expansion and contradtion of the floor in a transverse direction is'like- 1y to give. trouble a more or less elastic grout may be used to fill in the spaces. between the :ad jacent sides of the beams.

The details of construction, the strength of. the concrete mixture, .and the extentof steel reenforcement would be modified in accordance with the section of floor beam adopted, the typev of building, the span of the floors and the loading required. 7

I claim:

1. The improvement. in reenforced concrete floors composed of reenforced concrete beams of inverted channel form according to which upper and lower bars are provided in the-sides of the beams and projecting ledges are-formed at the lower edges of thevertical sides of each beam, the vertical depth of the ledge being such as to permit the grouting to extend the full working depth of the reenforced beam, the said sides of the beam between the upper and lower reenforcements being provided with longitudinally disposed grooves by which the grouting is keyed to and bonds together the corresponding sides of the adjacent beams, substantially as described.

2. In beams constructed in accordance with claim 1, providing at the ends and at intermediate points of the beam cross webs extending the full depth of the beam, the end webs having a profile similar to that of the sides of the beam and the intermediate cross webs being perforated to take attachments for hangers for runways, shafting, ducts and the like carried. from and located below the floor, substantially as described.

3. In the floor construction of claim 1, the combination with floor beams the grooved surfaces of which have external flanges at their lower edges, of longitudinal spacer pieces of material adapted to take and hold nails, screws and the like attachments, and to align the beams, and to close the bottom of the grouting groove.

4. In the floor construction of claim 1, the combination with floor beams the grooved surfaces of which have external flanges at their lower edges of longitudinal spacer pieces of material adapted to take and hold nails, screws and the like attachments, and toalign the beams, and to close the bottom and top of the grouting space.

5. In the floor construction of claim 1, the combination with the floor beams and rolled steel joists to support them, of haunchings carried by the lower members of the rolled steel joists, the ends of the floor beams being supported by the upper surfaces of the said haunchings, and fitting between the said upper surface and the upper side of the upper member of the joists.

6. In the floor construction of claim 1, the combination with the floor beams and rolled steel joists to support them, of haunchings carried by the lower members of the rolled steel joists, the end of the floor beams being supported by the upper surfaces of the said haunchings, andrespectively fitting between the said upper surface and the under side of the upper member of the joists; the upper surfaces of the haunchings being of concave configuration, and the ends of the floor beams being of corespond- 7. In the floor construction of claim 1, the

combination with the floor beams and rolled steel joists to support them, of haunchings carried by the lower members of the rolled steel joists, the ends of the floor being supported by the upper surfaces of the said haunchings, and fitting between the said upper surface and the under, side'of the upper member of the joists; the said haunchings being pre-cast units made in halves to enclose the lower member of the rolled steel joists, and having tongues and grooved jointing surfaces.

8: In the floor construction of claim 1, the combination with floor beams having their upper and lower side edges shaped to form supporting surfaces, of closure means to fill in the final gaps between the assembled floor beams,

said'closure means comprising slabs extending across the upper portions of the said gaps, and being supported by the said upper supporting surfaces of adjacent beams, and slabs extending across the lower portions of said gaps and being supportedby the said lower supporting surfaces, the spaces enclosed by said closure forming cavities to take conduits, heating grids and the like structure carried by the flooring.

9. In the floor construction of claim 1, and in combin'ation with the floor beams and a floor surface, of upper spacer. pieces of T shaped cross-section, the heads of which extend over the gap between the two adjacent floor beams, the upper surface of the headsextending above the top of the floor beams and carrying and forming attachment means for the said floor surface so as to leave cavities between the under sid of the floor surface and floor beams.

HENRY KEIDQIELM BATES. 

